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The armored car just arrived. The security guards are walking the envelope up the path. They fetched it earlier from a safe at Price Waterhouse.

We now are prepared to open the envelope and discover the winner of this season’s most underrated 49er award. And the winner is (have to open it slowly, not to soak to drama but to avoid a paper cut).

Oh my God! A dual winner! This award for underrated role as a starter goes to outside linebackers Parys Haralson and Manny Lawson! They are going to be so proud. I bet Lawson cries.

So did anyone have the answer(s)? A popular answer was cornerback Shawntae Spencer, which is an excellent choice. It also begs the question, how did a pair of seemingly innocuous linebackers with low sack totals upstage Spencer?

Because Lawson and Haralson played essential roles in what the 49ers did best in 2009 and that was plug the run. If statistics were kept on setting the edge in the run game, these guys would lead the league.

In the old days, defensive ends and linebackers where supposed to hold outside containment by staying to the outside of the tackle and “stringing out the play.” They were supposed to keep their outside arm free to hook any ball carriers who tried to turn the corner. The goal was to make the runner turn back to the inside and into the heart of the defense.

In the 49ers defense, those with outside containment responsibilities squeeze the edge, by striking the outside blocker (typically a tight end or tackle) and then driving up field slightly. So now, not only is the edge shortened, but running backs have a tackler in their path. Consequently, the runner either has to evade him by either cutting to the inside, once again into the heart of the defense, or by running around Haralson or Lawson, causing what’s known as a bubble in the runner’s path to get to the outside.

Because the 49ers have Patrick Willis, a bubble means trouble for the running back. By the time he reaches the edge after the bubble, Willis is there ready to pop him. Lawson and Haralson read the outside run quickly and then set the edge with impressive consistency. Typically, they don’t make the tackle but they allow the rest of the defense to flow and halt the run.

Underrated work for a pair of underrated guys who are this year’s winners of our most prestigious award. Thanks everybody for making this year’s award ceremony a huge success. By the way, you don’t tip security guards do you?